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Letter carriers will pick up more than mail

Letter carriers will pick up more than mail

May 10, 2006|LOU MUMFORD Tribune Staff Writer

NILES -- Supplies are running low at the Niles Christian Service Center's food pantry, which can mean only one thing: It's time for the National Association of Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. The 14th annual event is Saturday, when residents are urged to leave non-perishable food items, soap and paper products by their mailboxes. Nationwide, letter carriers, with help from volunteers and other organizations, picked up a record 71 million-plus pounds of such products a year ago, of which 42,745 pounds were donated in Niles, Berrien Springs, Buchanan, Three Oaks, New Buffalo, Dowagiac and Galien. Operators of local food pantries depend heavily on the country's largest one-day food drive to restock their shelves. "This (drive) is enormous," said Shirley Stephens, a volunteer at the Christian Service Center at St. Mary's Catholic Church. "We've waited for this since October.'' Stephens said all items except one are in short supply. "The only thing we have ample of right now is peas,'' she said. Stephens said her pantry serves some 400 people a month, a clear sign the local economy isn't in the best of shape. Some are more needy than others, she said. "One person who came in brought in with him a man and a woman he found living under a bridge,'' she said. "And we've had a couple of Katrina people.'' In Niles, food donated west of the St. Joseph River benefits the Christian Service Center's food bank. Items picked up east of it go to the Salvation Army in Niles. Salvation Army volunteer Colette Scott said the Army's food pantry shelves are currently long on vegetables and short on fruit, pork and beans, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce. Army Capt. William Walters said canned meat products are running low as well. "Our key is to give people a well balanced meal, not just vegetables,'' he said. He said people who receive food from the Army can pick up supplies once a month for a maximum of four months. After that, they must meet with him before receiving additional products, he said. "I help them with their budgets. Ultimately, that's the issue,'' he said. He said Saturday's drive hopefully will provide the Army in Niles with a six- or seven-month supply of food items. That should be no problem, providing the weather's good. Chris Cloud, a member of Niles Branch 775 of the NALC, said rain last year resulted in collections that fell some 6,000 pounds short of the record 48,793 pounds collected in 2001. Cloud, 53, a post office employee for 27 years, said canned vegetables and boxes of macaroni and cheese are likely the most common goods collected. However, residents also have donated such items as a case of Dannon bottled water and a large bottle of Downey Fabric Softener. She said she's often surprised by what turns up where. "Many times, it'll be the poorest apartments where we get the most products,'' she said. Saturday's forecast calls for clear skies in the morning and possible thunderstorms in the afternoon. Obviously, that's a mixed bag, which seems oddly fitting for a day when letter carriers mix business with, hopefully, charitable pleasure. "It's not even like a work day. ... It's holiday-like,'' Cloud said. Staff writer Lou Mumford: lmumford@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7002